Bringing values to life in therapy

Book now: https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/live-training/using-values-in-therapy 

Values are a cornerstone of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), helping clients connect with what truly matters to them and take meaningful steps toward growth. Yet, working with values in therapy often raises practical challenges: What if a client says, “I don’t know”? What if their values are conflicting or seem asocial? How do you know you’re introducing values at the right time – or doing it “right”?

This 2 hour introductory workshop is designed for practitioners who have some familiarity with values work and want to build greater confidence in applying it effectively. With a focus on practical tools, experiential exercises, and video demonstrations, you’ll learn how to navigate common obstacles, deepen your understanding of values processes, and bring values to life in your therapy sessions.

Background to the workshop

Values work is one of the most powerful tools in ACT, but it is also one of the trickiest to implement effectively. Clients may feel stuck, unsure of their values (“I don’t know what matters to me”), or offer values that reflect compliance or a desire to please the therapist. Others may identify values that conflict with one another or seem to harm their relationships or social connections. Talking about values can even bring up pain – reminders of lost opportunities, unmet aspirations, or past regrets.

For therapists, it can be challenging to know when and how to introduce values work, how to manage the emotional responses it can evoke, and how to turn values into meaningful action without overwhelming or disengaging the client. This workshop addresses these challenges directly, offering practical guidance and tools to help you feel more confident and flexible in working with values in therapy.

What you will gain from this workshop

By attending this workshop, you will:

• Refresh your understanding of the core principles of values work in ACT and how values promote psychological flexibility.
• Learn practical strategies for addressing common challenges in values work, including:
• What to do when a client says, “I don’t know my values.”
• How to approach client values that seem asocial, unconventional, or harmful to relationships.
• How to move from values being woolly (for example, “being loving”) to being concrete and actionable (“being a supportive and loving parent, even when it’s tough”).
• Managing conflicting values and helping clients navigate dilemmas.
• Identifying when a client’s values reflect compliance or a desire to please the therapist.
• Helping clients identify values they actually care about, rather than what they think they should care about
• Supporting clients who experience pain or discomfort when exploring their values.
• Working with excessively goal/ outcome orientated clients.
• Discover the best times to introduce values work into therapy and how to tailor it to the client’s needs.
• Explore a range of effective values exercises, from simple prompts to more experiential techniques that help clients connect with what truly matters to them.
• Watch video demonstrations of values work in action, showcasing how to navigate real-world challenges in therapy.
• Practice experiential exercises to refine your own skills and build confidence in using values work with clients.

About this workshop

This workshop is designed to be practical, interactive, and accessible for therapists who want to extend their understanding of values work. It will include:

• A concise review of ACT’s foundational approach to values and their role in fostering psychological flexibility.
• Video demonstrations that illustrate how to handle common challenges in values work, such as client uncertainty or conflicting values.
• Experiential exercises to help you explore and refine your approach to values in therapy.
• Group discussions and case examples to apply what you’ve learned to real-world scenarios.

Led by our founder Dr Joe Oliver, an experienced ACT practitioner and peer reviewed trainer, this 2 hour session combines teaching, demonstration, and hands-on practice, ensuring you leave with actionable insights and tools to integrate into your therapy work.

Who will benefit from this workshop?

This workshop is ideal for psychologists, therapists, counsellors, and coaches who have some foundational knowledge of ACT and values work but want to strengthen their skills.

It is particularly suited to professionals who encounter challenges such as:

• Clients who struggle to articulate or connect with their values.
• Addressing conflicting or asocial values in a therapeutic context.
• Navigating the emotional pain that can arise when discussing values.

Whether you’ve attended an introductory ACT workshop or explored values work through reading, this session will help you deepen your understanding and feel more confident in bringing values to life in therapy.

A basic working knowledge of ACT is recommended. If you’re new to ACT, we offer a free on-demand introduction to ACT workshop to help you prepare.